[miningmx.com] – ANC secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, told BDLive that business had shown disdain towards the ruling party in its efforts to control it.
Mantashe also described criticisms that Patrice Motsepe and Cyril Ramaphosa had been let off the hook while Anglo American had been subject to attacks from the government, including a threat it have its mining licences revoked, as “self-hate”.
Mantashe, in an article by BDLive, said: “”We can’t do that. We can’t give them the ANC” in respect of his fears that big business was attempting to control the party. He believed business had ignored the party’s “genuine openess” in listening to it.
The ANC rejected outright nationalisation at its national conference in Mangaung last month preferring instead investment in selected strategic resources. The provisions adopted at the conference in Mangaung have not yet been published.
Mantashe’s comments come in the wake of Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) decision to close 400,000 ounces/year of platinum capacity, a move that could affect 14,000 jobs.
More recently, First National Bank raised the ire of the ANC after flighting television adverts in which children voiced their feelings about South Africa’s future and which contained criticisms of the party.
BDLive said Mantashe had dismissed claims that political influence played a part in the virtual silence at the ANC after Harmony Gold announced plans to shut its Kusasalethu gold mine with the potential loss of 6,000 jobs. Harmony is chaired by ANC funder, Patrice Motsepe.
BDLive said critics have also observed the relatively light treatment given to Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the Marikana massacre.
BDLive quoted Mantashe as saying that Motsepe and Ramaphosa were in fact scrutinised while others were left off the hook.
